Chapter 2168 — Outer Gods' True Identity

"If Outer God isn't your title, then what is your true one? How should I address your kind from now on?" Yuan asked.

"Your kind...?" Shiva's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Bold words for a mere human. Were I not powerless in this moment, I would kill you for such disrespect."

Yuan's lips curled into a smile. "Oh, I'm terrified," he mocked.

Shiva said nothing. Her silence was heavy, her displeasure evident in the narrowing of her eyes. Yet for some reason, she held her fury in check, as though restrained by something unseen. "We call ourselves Eternals, as our existence is everlasting."

"Eternals, huh? So, what does an Eternal like you want from me? You possessed Mu Xuelian's body just to speak to me, so surely, you want something from me."

"Indeed, I want something from you." Shiva spoke as she slowly lifted her head to look at the crystal above him and continued, "Do you see that block of ice above you?"

"What about it?"

"My very essence is sealed within that ice, and I would like you to break that seal and set me free," she said with a solemn expression.

"You're sealed?" Yuan raised an eyebrow, and he immediately recalled the cavern he found at the Heavenly White Tiger Clan's territory, where another Eternal was being sealed. "Aren't you an almighty god? How and who has the power to seal you in this place?"

Shiva fell silent again. "I'll tell you once you release me," she eventually said.

"No way." Yuan immediately declined. "Since you don't want to tell me anything, allow me to tell you what I think about Eternals and my relationship with them. In my past life, I have fought and defeated Eternals—"

"Hahaha!" Shiva suddenly laughed, interrupting him. "A human defeating Eternals? That's not possible. Not even your strongest cultivators—a Cultivation God-would be able to touch us, let alone defeat us!"

Yuan shrugged and said, "Whether you believe me or not is up to you. Anyway, while I don't remember everything, I know that I have been fighting Eternals since the beginning, so if you think I will release you, who could be a potential threat to me and this world, you can keep dreaming."

Shiva's eyes narrowed, her voice low and edged with disdain. "Did you imagine all Eternals to be on the same side? Hardly. We are no strangers to discord. Just as the beings in this world have factions that collide, so do we. Moreover, if you're worried that I might destroy your world or something after being released, that is needless worry. We, Eternals, cannot directly intervene here. In other words, we cannot touch this realm."

"What?" Yuan's eyes widened with shock after learning this new information. "Eternals cannot touch the Nine Heavens? Why?"

"Because this world is protected by an absolute power that even we Eternals cannot touch. It is also why I was sealed in this world."

"Absolute power? Can you elaborate?" Yuan asked.

"No, because you wouldn't understand it."

"Then tell me who sealed you in this world and why they did it."

Shiva sighed, "Very well. If it's the only way to convince you to unseal me." After a deep breath, she explained, "I was sealed in this world because of the absolute power that protects this place. Since I am sealed here, it means the other Eternals cannot help me, as the seal can only be removed with god's power. As for who sealed me here... It was another Eternal. I lost our fight, and as punishment, I was sealed here."

"How long have you been sealed here?" Yuan asked.

"Too long."

Yuan fell silent to digest this information. 'So she was sealed in this world because Eternals cannot interfere with this place, and since she can only be unsealed with Heavens' Supremacy, she's essentially trapped in here forever...or until someone who can wield Heavens' Supremacy-someone like me comes to her rescue.'

Sometime later, Yuan asked, "What are you going to do once I unseal you? Return to the void beyond our world?"

"If only it were that simple," she shook her head. "As Eternals, our bodies cannot be destroyed even by another Eternal. In order to seal me in this world, they had to separate my 'Essence' from my body. In my current state, I do not have the power to return to the void, much less regain my body."

"Your essence... so something like your soul? Can't you just make another body like cultivators who reached God Ascension can do?"

"Make another body? Don't compare ours to your fragile shells," she sneered. "They cannot simply be recreated. Even if it were possible, it would take trillions of years."

"Then what are your plans?"

"Leave this world and regain my body," she said.

Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that basically what I said?"

"Yes. I didn't say you were wrong."

"How are you going to achieve that without a body? Don't tell me you're going to use Mu Xuelian..." Yuan frowned.

"That is exactly what I am going to do. I protected and cultivated their tribe for countless years for a reason," Shiva said in a firm tone. "Nothing is free in this world."

"What if I placed your Essence in another place and helped you regain your body? Like a Soul Weapon, which can hold souls?" Yuan asked.

"That's impossible," she said flatly. "I won't repeat myself—do not apply the logic of this world to my existence. No Soul Weapon can contain my Essence. The only reason I can inhabit this girl is because of her unique physique, which I have cultivated for countless years. Even if you unseal me, I will not be able to go anywhere without this girl."

Unsure of how to respond, Yuan remained silent.

"Now that I've told you everything, what is your answer?" Shiva spoke a moment later. "Of course, I am not asking your help for free. If you free me, I will not only help you evolve your physique, but I will even show you the full potential of your physique."

"What do you even know about my physique?"

"You mean the Heaven Refining Physique?" Shiva said with a profound smile. "Or should I call it the Eternal Constitution?"

"The what...?" Yuan stared at her, his eyes wide with disbelief. (More chapters in Buyers club for TMT)